‘Strong possibility’ of further nurses’ strikes in January, warns union leader

As reported by The Independent, walkouts are currently planned for Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 December

There is a ‘strong possibility’ of further nurses’ strikes in January, a union leader has warned as the winter of industrial discontent continues.

Walkouts are currently planned for Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 December, and the NHS is training military personnel to help keep services running during what will be the largest action of its kind in health service history.

Asked whether there will be more strikes by nurses, Pat Cullen, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), told Sky News: “Well the ball’s in their court quite frankly.”

“There will be a second day on 20 December and unless we have talks and unless we are able to negotiate on behalf of my members then I’m afraid to say that’s a very strong possibility and already we will be starting to look at when those dates could be.

“I’m afraid that they will continue into January.”

Speaking to BBC Newsnight shortly afterwards, Ms Cullen said “nothing at all” had been done to prevent the ever-closening nurses’ strike, and accused the government of turning its back on health workers.

The UK government has called RCN’s 19% pay rise demand “unaffordable” and “unrealistic” – a stance met with vehement cross-party criticism.

In England, the first round of strikes will occur in 51 of 219 hospitals, mental-health trusts and community services.

Walkouts are also going ahead in all of Northern Ireland’s health boards and all but one in Wales.

Members of two major NHS unions in Scotland, Unite and Unison, earlier this week voted to accept an improved pay offer – ending the risk of strike action in the health service by their members.